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Quinton Narkle credits Richmond star Shai Bolton for body transformation that helped revive AFL career
Port Adelaide recruit Quinton Narkle has credited Richmond star Shai Bolton for helping him reignite his AFL career.
Narkle, 25, played 41 games in six seasons at Geelong but missed out on last year’s grand final team and was delisted at the end of the campaign.
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After being shown the door by the Cats, Narkle spent time with Richmond in the pre-season but missed out on a list spot before signing with Essendon’s VFL team in a bid to earn another shot in the big time.
He produced a brilliant start to the season which saw him snapped up by Port Adelaide in the mid-season draft.
Expected to provide the ladder-leading Power with depth, Narkle was thrust into the first team as a late replacement for Junior Rioli in Thursday night’s clash against Geelong.
He more than grabbed his chance with two goals and 13 possessions, including a number of telling touches in the second term, as the Power dominated the Cats to make it 11 wins in a row.
After the match, Narkle shed light on how Bolton played a crucial role in his return to the AFL.
“It’s been crazy but I’m finally here back in the system. Worked pretty hard to get back,” he told Channel 7.
“I walked into the exit meeting not really knowing what was going to happen. I was sort of confident that I might get another crack at it.
“But yeah, these things happen in the AFL industry. It’s pretty brutal at times.
“I think it gave me a lot more motivation. I credit Shai Bolton, who is a really close friend of mine. He sort of chucked me on his back and got me back training straight away.
“I didn’t have any time off. I worked really hard to get back in the system. I had to focus on some things in terms of body comp, fitness, and yeah, he really helped me with that.”
Narkle went on to say he lost nine kilograms during his off-season training program that put him in great shape for 2023.
While a number of clubs were interested in him for the mid-season draft, Narkle had hoped to land at the Power to play alongside close mate Sam Powell-Pepper.
Powell-Pepper, who also kicked two goals against the Cats, has made Narkle feel right at home, including assisting his first goal for his new club.
“He’s made it very comfortable for me,” Narkle said.
Narkle also conceded he doubted he would ever be back, but again paid tribute to Bolton and his partner Taylor for believing in him.
“It was definitely a lot of doubt. At times I lost confidence,” he said.
“But I’ve had good people around me … Shai, my family are all here, and my partner, Taylor, she has been so good to me. She keeps backing me and telling me I’m good enough, I can be there, I just need to keep working hard. Shout out to her as well.
“She has been there every step of the way. It’s been hard for myself but it’s definitely been hard for her as well watching me go through all of that. She’s just as excited as I am.”
